Indian companies may bid for telecom rights in Poland

Warsaw: Indian companies are among those interested in bidding for two licences to provide mobile phone, fixed-line and Internet services in Poland, according to the Warsaw-based telecommunications regulator.

“There is interest on the part of big communications companies from India,” the deputy head of the watchdog’s licence-management department, Mariusz Busilo, said in an interview in Warsaw.

However, he declined to identify the potential bidders. “They do business in wholesale international traffic,” Busilo added.

Poland’s telecommunications regulator is auctioning the new licences as part of an effort to increase competition and lower phone prices in the country of 38 million people. Companies have until 24 August to bid for the 1,800MHz frequencies and must offer at least 1.96 million zloty (Rs2.7 crore) for each licence.

To provide services across the country, a company would need both licences, Busilo said on Monday.

Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, which bid for a licence in 2005, “hasn’t expressed interest yet, but it may place an offer,” he added.